Strap adjuster

ABSTRACT

A strap adjuster has a quadrangular frame; a plurality of slots defined in the frame to extend in a transverse direction such that a strap can be fitted through the slots; and at least one support bar formed between the slots, wherein recessions are formed on both widthwise side surfaces, respectively, of the frame such that the frame can be easily grasped using fingers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, in general, to a strap adjuster which isused to be mounted to a strap installed on knapsacks, bags, clothes,helmets, etc. so as to adjust the effective length of the strap or fixthe strap adjuster at a desired position on the strap, and moreparticularly, to a strap adjuster which is configured to be convenientlymoved on a strap and has improved adhesibility to the strap to be stablymaintained in a fixed state without substantial protrusion.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, straps are installed on knapsacks, bags, hats, clothes, etc.as the occasion demands. A strap adjuster is mounted to a strap so thatthe strap can be tightened or the effective length of the strap can beadjusted by virtue of the strap adjuster.

The strap adjuster has a frame which has a substantially rectangularconfiguration. A support bar is formed in the frame in such a way as toconnect both widthwise side walls of the frame and extend in ahorizontal direction across the space defined in the frame such thatslots are defined between the support bar and the frame. A strap ispassed through the slots such that the strap is saddled on the supportbar. In this way, the strap adjuster can be fixedly maintained at adesired position on the strap. If desired, the strap adjuster can bemoved in the lengthwise direction of the strap so that the effectivelength of the strap can be adjusted.

FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrate an example of a conventional strapadjuster, wherein FIG. 1 is a perspective view, FIG. 2 is a front viewof FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of FIG. 1. Referring tothese drawings, a strap adjuster 1 has a frame 2 which defines thecontour of the strap adjuster 1. A support bar 3 is formed to connectboth widthwise side walls of the frame 2 and extend in a horizontaldirection across the space defined in the frame 2. As a consequence,slots 4 are defined between the support bar 3 and the frame 2 so that astrap S can be passed through the slots 4.

Since most straps are made thin and have a width that is greater than athickness, the slots 4 through which the strap S is passed have arectangular sectional shape.

The support bar 3 is differently structured depending upon the functionthereof. In the case where the strap S is simply placed on the supportbar 3, the support bar 3 has a slim and simple rectangularconfiguration. In the case where the strap S is wound or tensioned sothat durability capable of sustaining a considerable pressure isrequired, the support bar 3 should have a substantial thickness.

In order to increase friction between the strap adjuster 1 and the strapS, knurls or depressions and protuberances can be formed on the surfaceof the support bar 3 so that the strap adjuster 1 can be firmly fixedwith respect to the strap S.

As the strap S is passed through the slots 4 as if it saddles on thesupport bar 3, the strap adjuster 1 can maintain its fixed positionwithout fluctuation by the frictional force between the frame 2including the support bar 3 and the strap S. When the strap S isstraightened, maximum frictional force can be obtained.

When it is necessary to move the strap adjuster 1, the strap adjuster 1can be easily slid on the strap S by bending the strap S. By forcefullytensioning the strap S in the lengthwise direction thereof, which isadjusted in the effective length thereof or on which the position of thestrap adjuster 1 is changed, the strap adjuster 1 can be fixed in itsposition by the friction between the frame 2 and the strap S which ispassed through the slots 4 and is saddled on the support bar 3.

The support bar 3, which supports the strap S and provides frictionalforce, should have sufficient strength. To this end, the support bar 3should have a predetermined thickness or over, and accordingly, the sidewalls of the frame 2, to which the support bar 3 is connected, should beformed to have a substantial thickness.

However, in the conventional strap adjuster 1, inconvenience is causeddue to the substantial thickness of the frame 2 when the strap adjuster1 is employed in knapsacks or clothes. In particular, in the case wherethe strap adjuster 1 is employed in the shoulder strap of a knapsack, asthe strap adjuster 1 comes into contact with the human body,interference is caused between the strap adjuster 1 and the human body,and damage to the clothes which are placed under the strap adjuster 1can be caused.

Also, the strap adjuster 1 may not be kept fixed on the strap S and islikely to be easily moved due to contact with the human body or anexternal item so that the fixed state of the strap adjuster 1 cannot bestably maintained.

Meanwhile, the strap adjuster 1, which is installed on the strap S, isslid on the strap S by being grasped using fingers so as to adjust theeffective length of the strap S. In this regard, even though the strapadjuster 1 has a substantial thickness even causing the interference asdescribed above, the strap adjuster 1 is structured so that it isinconvenient to grasp the strap adjuster 1 using fingers.

That is to say, while it is the norm that both side surfaces of thestrap adjuster 1 are grasped and the strap adjuster 1 is moved in thelengthwise direction of the strap S, since the strap adjuster 1 issmall-sized and the side walls of the strap adjuster 1 are thin and haveinsufficient length, it is inconvenient to grasp the strap adjuster 1using fingers. Moreover, since the strap S is passed through the slots 4in such a way as to be brought into firm contact with the support bar 3and the frame 2, it is difficult to slide the strap adjuster 1 due tothe frictional between the strap S and the frame 2 including the supportbar 3.

FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating another conventional strap adjuster.Referring to FIG. 4, a strap adjuster 11 has a frame 12 which definesthe contour of the strap adjuster 11. Two or more support bars 13 areformed in the frame 12 to connect both widthwise side walls of the frame12. Slots 14 are defined between the support bars 13 and between eachsupport bar 13 and the frame 12 so that a strap can be passed throughthe slots 14. This type of strap adjuster 11 also suffers from drawbacksin that it is inconvenient to grasp and move the strap adjuster 11 usingfingers, interference between the strap adjuster 11 and the human bodyor an external item is likely to be caused, and the fixed state of thestrap adjuster 11 on the strap may not be stably maintained.

That is to say, although various strap adjusters, which are structuredin such a way as to define slots by the presence of one or more supportbars as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 so as to allow a strap to be passedthrough the slots have been disclosed in the art, they encounter theproblems as described above.

As a result, in the conventional strap adjusters, sliding manipulationof the strap adjusters is inconvenient, the fixed state of the strapadjusters cannot be stably maintained due to the interference betweenthe strap adjusters and the human body or an external item, andannoyance is likely to be caused due to the contact with the strapadjusters and the human body. Therefore, a strap adjuster capable ofsolving these problems is keenly demanded in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solvethe problems occurring in the related art, and an object of the presentinvention is to provide a strap adjuster which is formed with recessionson both widthwise side surfaces thereof so that the strap adjuster canbe easily grasped and moved by fingers, thereby ensuring manipulationconvenience.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a strap adjusterin which protrusion is minimized so that, when the strap adjuster iscoupled to a strap, interference between the strap adjuster and thehuman body or an external item can be reduced, thereby preventinginconvenience or annoyance from being caused to a user due to theinterference.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a strapadjuster which has close contact parts to stably press a strap so thatthe fastened state of the strap can be reliably maintained.

In order to achieve the above objects, according to one aspect of thepresent invention, there is provided a strap adjuster having a frame inwhich one or at least two rectangular slots are defined so that a strapcan be passed through the slots to adjust an effective length of thestrap or fix the strap adjuster at a desired position on the strap,wherein recessions are respectively formed on both widthwise sidesurfaces of the frame which are opposite to each other.

It is preferred that the recessions are respectively positioned at bothlengthwise ends of the slots.

Accordingly, when it is necessary to move the strap adjuster in thelengthwise direction of the strap, by grasping the strap adjuster in therecessions formed on the widthwise side surfaces of the frame usingfingers, the fingers are prevented from slipping outward on the strapadjuster, whereby the stable manipulation of the strap adjuster can beensured.

In order to achieve the above objects, according to another aspect ofthe present invention, there is provided a strap adjuster having a framein which one or at least two rectangular slots are defined so that astrap can be passed through the slots to adjust an effective length ofthe strap or fix the strap adjuster at a desired position on the strap,wherein portions of an upper surface of the frame define inclinedsurfaces which extend downward from an inner upper end of the frameadjoining the slots to both lengthwise ends of the frame.

According to this fact, since the protruding corners of the frame aresubstituted by the inclined surfaces, in the state in which the strapadjuster is coupled to the strap, interference between the strapadjuster and the human body or an external item can be reduced, wherebyit is possible to prevent inconvenience from being caused to a user.

Also, due to the fact that the distal ends of the inclined surfacesproject outward in such a way as to define close contact parts, thecontact area between the strap adjuster and the strap can be increaseddue to the presence of the close contact parts, whereby the fixed stateof the strap adjuster can be stably maintained.

In order to achieve the above objects, according to still another aspectof the present invention, there is provided a strap adjuster having aframe in which one or at least two rectangular slots are defined so thata strap can be passed through the slots to adjust an effective length ofthe strap or fix the strap adjuster at a desired position on the strap,wherein a lower surface of the frame is formed as a rounded surface tobe concentric in the lengthwise direction of the frame.

Accordingly, in the strap adjuster according to the present invention,adhesibility between the lower surface of the strap adjuster and anobject to be contacted can be improved. Also, as the strap which isbrought into contact with the lower surface of the frame is efficientlypressed, the fastened state of the strap can be reliably maintained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects, and other features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent after a reading of the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional strap adjuster;

FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A′ of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating another conventional strap adjuster;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a strap adjuster in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a front view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B′ of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a strap adjuster in accordancewith another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a front view of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a strap adjuster inaccordance with still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a front view of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a front view illustrating a strap adjuster in accordance witha still further embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in greater detail to preferred embodiments ofthe invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be usedthroughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or likeparts.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a strap adjuster in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a front view ofFIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a side sectional view illustrating a state inwhich a strap is fitted through the strap adjuster. Referring to thesedrawings, a strap adjuster 101 has a quadrangular frame 102 whichdefines a space therein, and a support bar 103 which is formed in themiddle of the space defined in the frame 102 to extend in a transversedirection. Slots 104 are defined between the support bar 103 and theframe 102 over and under the support bar 103 so that a strap S can befitted through the slots 104.

The slots 104 defined in the strap adjuster 101 extend in the widthwisedirection, that is, the transverse direction of the frame 102.Generally, the strap S is made thin and has a width that is greater thana thickness. Recessions 105 are formed on both widthwise side surfacesof the frame 102 of the strap adjuster 101 so that the frame 102 of thestrap adjuster 101 can be easily grasped using fingers. The recessions105 define curved surfaces. In order to increase the friction betweenthe frame 102 of the strap adjuster 101 and the fingers, the curvedsurfaces can be knurled, or depressions and prominences can be formed onthe curved surfaces.

Inclined surfaces 106 are formed on the upper surface of the frame 102in four directions. The inclined surfaces 106 are inclined downward fromthe center portion of the frame 102 adjoining the slots 104 toward theside surfaces of the frame 102.

The distal ends of the inclined surfaces 106, which are formed in thedirection parallel to the extending direction of the strap S, extendfurther outward in such a way as to define close contact parts 107. Theclose contact parts 107 are formed such that the widthwise middleportions thereof project outward and the outer ends thereof are rounded.

The lower surface of the strap adjuster 101 is formed as a roundedsurface. That is to say, the lower surface of the frame 102 of the strapadjuster 101 is rounded such that the lower surface defines thesectional shape of an arc and is concentric in the lengthwise directionof the frame 102.

The strap S is passed through the strap adjuster 101 as shown in FIG. 7.That is to say, the strap S is introduced under one lengthwise endportion of the frame 102, is upwardly passed through one slot 104, andextends over the support bar 103. Then, the strap S is downwardly passedthrough the other slot 104, and is discharged under the other lengthwiseend portion of the frame 102. In the case where three or more slots aredefined by forming at least two support bars in the frame 102, the strapS can be further passed through one or more slots.

When it is necessary to move the strap adjuster 101 placed on the strapS, by grasping the strap adjuster 101 in the pair of opposite recessions105 using fingers, the strap adjuster 101 can be slid on the strap S.Even though the strap adjuster 101 may not be easily slid on the strap Sdue to the fact that the strap S is passed through the slots 104multiple times, since the force can be applied with the fingers placedin the recessions 105, the movement of the strap adjuster 101 can beeasily implemented.

Also, because the close contact parts 107 can press two additionalportions of the strap S with the strap adjuster 101 is fixedlymaintained on the strap S in such a way as to increase the contact areabetween the strap adjuster 101 and the strap S, the strap adjuster 101can be stably kept fixed on the strap S. The close contact parts 107 canensure stable close contact between the strap S and an object to becontacted or the human body.

Moreover, the lower surface of the frame 102 is formed as a roundedsurface in such a way as to define the sectional shape of an arc so thatthe strap adjuster 101 can come into close contact with the human bodyor the object on which the strap S is installed. In particular,considering the fact that maximum frictional force is applied to theupper surface of the support bar 103 and the lower surface of the frame102 due to the passage of the strap S, since the lower surface of theframe 102 is formed as a rounded surface, the distance between thesupport bar 103 and the lower surface of the frame 102 can be increased,and the frictional force applied to the strap S is increased, wherebyfixing force can be increased.

Further, due to the presence of the inclined surfaces 106 which areformed on the upper surface of the frame 102, protrusion on the uppersurface of the strap adjuster 101 can be minimized so that the strapadjuster 101 can have a slim configuration. As a result, when the strapadjuster 101 is coupled to the strap S, interference between the strapadjuster 101 and the human body or an external item can be reduced,thereby preventing inconvenience or annoyance from being caused to auser and minimizing damage to clothes or the external item.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a strap adjuster in accordancewith another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a frontview of FIG. 8. Referring to these drawings, a strap adjuster 111according to this embodiment of the present invention includes a frame112 which defines the contour of the strap adjuster 111, and a supportbar 113 which is formed to connect both widthwise side walls of theframe 112 and extend in a horizontal direction across the space definedin the frame 112. As a consequence, slots 114 are defined between thesupport bar 113 and the frame 112 so that a strap can be passed throughthe slots 114. Recessions 115 are formed on both widthwise side surfacesof the strap adjuster 111 which extend in a direction parallel to thestrap, and inclined surfaces 116 are formed on the upper surface of theframe 112.

An auxiliary frame 122 is integrally formed on a widthwise side of theframe 112 in such a way as to define an auxiliary slot 124 between theframe 112 and the auxiliary frame 122.

The auxiliary frame 122 is formed to extend in a direction that does notcorrespond to the direction in which the strap extends through the frame112. Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11 which illustrate still anotherembodiment of the present invention, auxiliary frames 122 can berespectively formed on both sides of the frame 112 such that auxiliaryslots 124 are defined between the frame 112 and the auxiliary frames122.

A recession 125 is formed on the outer side surface of the auxiliaryframe 122, and an inclined surface 126 is formed downward from the innerupper end of the auxiliary frame 122 to the recession 125.

The lower surface of the frame 112 is formed as a rounded surface suchthat the lower surface defines the sectional shape of an arc and isconcentric in the lengthwise direction of the frame 112, and the lowersurface of the auxiliary frame 122 is formed as a rounded surface suchthat the lower surface defines the sectional shape of an arc and isconcentric in the lengthwise direction of the auxiliary frame 122.

Accordingly, with the strap passed through the slots 114 of the frame112, an additional strap can be connected through the auxiliary slot 124of the auxiliary frame 122.

In the embodiment, the convenient manipulation of the strap adjuster 111can be ensured due to the presence of the recessions 115 and 125. Sincethe lower surface of the frame 112 and the lower surface of theauxiliary frame 122 are formed as rounded surfaces to define thesectional shape of arcs, adhesibility of the strap adjuster 111 can beimproved, and the stably coupled state between the strap and the strapadjuster 111 can be reliably maintained.

As is apparent from the above description, in the present invention, dueto the fact that recessions are formed on both side surfaces of a strapadjuster so that the strap adjuster can be easily grasped by fingers,when moving the strap adjuster on a strap, the fingers are preventedfrom slipping outward on the strap adjuster and the strap adjuster canbe easily moved on the strap, whereby manipulation convenience can beprovided.

Also, in the present invention, since inclined surfaces are formed onthe upper surface of a frame to downwardly extend in outward directions,the protruding portions of the strap adjuster are minimized so that,when the strap adjuster is coupled to the strap, interference betweenthe strap adjuster and the human body or an external item can bereduced, whereby it is possible to prevent inconvenience or annoyancefrom being caused to a user due to the interference.

Further, in the present invention, because close contact parts areformed to stably press the strap, the area over which the strap ispressed by the strap adjuster can be sufficiently increased. As aconsequence, the coupled state between the strap and the strap adjustercan be stably maintained, and the strap can stably come into closecontact with the human body or an object to be contacted.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope and the spirit of theinvention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. For example, thepresent invention can be applied to a strap adjuster of FIG. 12, whichis differently configured to have increased numbers of support bars andslots. That is to say, the present invention can be applied to all kindsof strap adjusters through which straps are passed.

1. A strap adjuster comprising: a quadrangular frame; a plurality ofslots defined in the frame to extend in a transverse direction such thata strap can be fitted through the slots; and at least one support barformed between the slots, wherein recessions are formed on bothwidthwise side surfaces, respectively, of the frame such that the framecan be easily grasped using fingers.
 2. The strap adjuster according toclaim 1, wherein inclined surfaces are formed on an upper surface of theframe to extend from a center portion of the frame adjoining the slotstoward side surfaces of the frame.
 3. The strap adjuster according toclaim 2, wherein distal ends of the inclined surfaces, which are formedin a direction parallel to an extending direction of the strap, extendfurther outward in such a way as to define close contact parts.
 4. Thestrap adjuster according to claim 1, wherein an auxiliary frame isformed on one widthwise side or each of both widthwise sides of theframe in such a way as to define a slot between the auxiliary frame andthe frame so that a strap can be fitted through the slot.
 5. The strapadjuster according to claim 4, wherein a recession is formed on awidthwise side surface of the auxiliary frame.
 6. The strap adjusteraccording to claim 5, wherein a lower surface of the frame is formed asa rounded surface to be concentric in a lengthwise direction of theframe, and a lower surface of the auxiliary frame is also formed as arounded surface to be concentric in the lengthwise direction of theframe.